Match pin coating machine



April 6, 1954 F. E. M KAY 2,674,224

MATCH PIN COATING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l ex v INVENTOR.

Q 1 W W BY WW ATTORNEY April 6, 1954 F. E. MCKAY MATCH PIN COATING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 14. 1952 3 l w W 4 NE W. m: 5 w 7 M V. n B om u mfim \E W mm Q) ATTORNEY April 6, 1954 McKAY MATCH PIN COATING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

. WW Mir fl ATTORNEY p 1954 F. E. MCKAY MATCH PIN COATING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 14 1952 INVENTOR.

ATI'ORNEY April 6, 1954 F. E. MOKAY 2,674,224

MATCH PIN COATING MACHINE Filed March 14 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 SEW m @lm m 5! 32 .65.; ag Balm g x 3% -EE.EH-I e 3 INVENTOR.

# 2 ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 6, 1954 MATCH PIN COATING MACHINE Frank E. McKay, Westerville, Ohio, assignor to Kilgore, Inc., Westerville, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 14, 1952, Serial No. 276,662

4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates generally to a machine for coating match pins, and more particularly to such a machine whereby match pins are carried on a conveyor to different coatin units or stations where the pins are coated with varnish, resin, phosphorus, powdered glass particles, and the like. The present apparatus is adapted for coating metal match pins such as are used as detonators for flame thrower cartridges but the invention is not limited to such type of match pins.

In coating match pins of the type described it is necessary to apply stripes or bands of liquid substances near the head of the match pin. It is also necessary to apply a stripe or band of powderedglass particles intermediate the coats of the liquid substances which serve as base and bond coatings for the glass particles. A stripe or band of phosphorus is also applied over the glass particles to cooperate with the glass particles to provide frictional ignition. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a machine for applying the various stripes or bands just described to the heads of match pins in a steady flow process of high speed production.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a match pin coating machine wherein match pins are coated by a completely automatic process, thereby eliminating variations incident to hand coating processes.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a match pin coating machine wherein the match pins are carried by a continuous steady flow conveyor to various coating units or stations, and wherein the match pins are rotated in their mountings on the conveyor with such rotation being imparted to the match pins in a novel and eflicient way, and at the proper time so that the various substances applied to the match pin heads are put thereon in smooth, uniform coatings.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the inventionis clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention showing the general flow of the match pin conveyor past the various coating units or stations;

Fig. 2 shows five successive side elevational views of a match pin on which the strips or bands of coating are shown in the order in which they are applied;

Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of a typical match pin rotating machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a partial side elevation view of the present invention showing the portion of the machine wherein the various coating units are mounted;

Fig. 5 is a partial top elevational view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 4; 1

Fig. 6 is a partial end elevational view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a side elevational View of one of the coating units of the present invention;

Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of the coating unit of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of another of the coating units of the present invention;

Fig. 10 is an end elevational view of the coating unit as seen at a section through the machine taken on line Hll0;

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of still another of the coating units of the present invention; and

Fig. 12 is an end elevational view of the coating unit of Fig. 11.

In the accompanying drawing the machine shown includes a main frame indicated genorally at 20 in the various figures. Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, loading pans 2| are shown for holding match pins that are to be coated. The operators of the machine manually take pins from the pans 2i and place them in brackets 22 which are mounted along the entire length of a conveyor indicated generally at 23. The pins are loaded in the brackets 22 on the portion of the conveyor, indicated at 24, as the brackets pass by the loading pans 2!. The conveyor 23 is preferably a roller chain with special attachments so shown in Fig. 3.

The un'coated match pin blanks are short sections of round steel rod, as indicated at H in Figs. 2 and 3, and such blanks are inserted through holes in the walls of the S-shaped brackets 22 which are most clearly seen in Fig. 3. It should be noted that each S-shaped bracket 22 has three parallel walls. These three walls are indicated at 25, 26 and 27 in Fig. 3. Only walls 25 and26 are provided with holes through which the pins are inserted. The wall 21 serves as a stop against which the end of the pin is positioned to index the pin laterally relative to the various coating units to which the pin is carried by the conveyor.

Fig. 2 of the drawing is provided to show the various successive coatings that are applied to a steel match pin blank by the machine of the present invention. The first view, designated P, shows a match pin blank in the initial uncoated stage. The successive views, designated P, V, R, G and PH, show the same pin after it has been coated with varnish, resin, glass, and phosphorus, respectively. It should be noted that the band of varnish is wider than the other succeeding bands of resin, glass particles and phosphorus. These latter three substances are applied in bands of equal width as shown.

The various sprockets that .carry the conveyor chain 23 are numbered in the sequence of the flow of a match pin carried by the conveyor. That is, a match pin placed on the conveyor between sprockets I and 2 will next be carried past sprockets 3, 4, 5, etc. until it eventually returns to sprocket I for its removal from the conveyor after it has been completely processed and coated.

After a match pin has been placed on the conveyor 23 at position 24, Fig. 1, it is carried along by the conveyor to the varnish coating unit which is located best by reference to the schematic view of Fig. 1, which has previously been described. Such coating unit is mounted to the frame along the conveyor 23 and between the sprockets 2 and 3 at the location marked V in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the detailed view of the varnish coating unit shown in Figs. 7 and 8, two upper disks 29 and two lower disks 30 are provided for rotating the match pins as they are conveyed between the peripheries of these disks. Both the upper and lower disks are formed of rubber or similar resilient material and two metal side plates 3| are provided for each disk to furnish the necessary rigidity.

It should be noted that each of lower disks 30 is provided with a flange 32 of slightly greater diameter than the lower main disks 33. The function of this flange 32 is to apply varnish to the end of a match pin at the same time that the main disk 33 applies a stripe or band of varnish to the side of the match pin. The upper disks 3| are keyed to a shaft 33 which is free to rotate in the housings 34. The housings 34 are rigidly fastened to the pivotally mounted arms 35, which are clearly shown in Fig. 7. As

the arms 35 are pivoted to the vertical frame members 28 at shaft 36, as best seen in Fig. 7, it is apparent that the upper disks 2! are free to move in essentially a vertical direction. To constantly press the upper disks 29 downward against the lower disks 30, springs 31 are retained by rods 38 in a position whereby such springs engage the housings 34. The compression force exerted by the springs 31 on the housings 34 may be adjusted by means of the nuts 38a and the washers 38b.

The lower drums 30 are each keyed to a shaft 39, which is journaled in a shaft housing 40. The housings 40 are rigidly fastened to the pivotally mounted arms 4|. As the arms 4| are pivoted to the vertical frame members 42 at shaft 43, as best seen in Fig. 7, it is apparent that the lower disks 30 are free to move in essential- 1y a vertical direction. To constantly press the lower disks 3d upward against the upper disks 29, springs 44 are retained in a position between the housing 40 and the frame by the rod 44a.

To continually supply varnish, or the like to the peripheries of the lower disks 30 a tank 45 is mounted to the upper portion of the frame.

Lil

' additional illustration in the drawings.

Discharge tubes 46 lead from the tank to the peripheries of the lower disks 33 and flow control valves 41 are located along the discharge lines. Two rectangular tanks 48 are mounted to the frame so that each tank encloses the lower portion of a disk 30 and so that the disk actually rotates in the contents of the tank 48. The varnish system also includes a sump 49 located below the tanks 48 and connected to them by the tubes 5|. The pump 53 and the return tubes 54 and 55 serve to return the varnish back up to the tank 45, from which the varnish again gravitates to the drums 30.

The disks 29 are rotated in a clockwise direction by the chain drive consisting of sprockets 56 and 5'! and chain 58. The disks 30 are totated in a clockwise direction by the sprocket 59 and similar sprockets on shafts 43 and 63 which carry the chains 6| and 62. The shaft 63 and the sprockets mounted thereon are rotated by the sprocket 64 and the chain 65 which extends to a sprocket mounted on the shaft of a motor, not shown.

After the match 'pins have been coated with varnish as just described, the conveyor 23 carries them into the oven 66 which is partially shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The path of the match pins can best be seen by reference to Fig. 1. They proceed from the varnish coating unit, the posi tion of which is designated V, between sprockets 2 and 3, in Fig. 1, through the oven 66 to sprocket 4 and then back again through the oven 66 to the sprocket 5. The resin coating unit is located between the sprockets 4 and 5 and its position is designated R on Fig. 1. As the apparatus and operation of the resin coating unit is similar to the apparatus and operation of the varnish coating unit just described, it is felt that a lengthy description of the resin coating unit is unnecessary and the Figs. '7 and 8 of the drawing serve to illustrate the resin coating apparatus as well as the varnish coating apparatus.

A minor difference between these two units is present in that the disks 28 and 3!] are of greater width in the resin unit than in the varnish unit to provide a different width to the stripe or band applied to the heads of the match pins, as may be seen in Fig. 2. This difference of width is merely a matter of choice, of course, and is not of sufficient significance to warrant In addi-- tion, the flange 32 is omitted from the lower drum 30 in the resin coating unit because the ends of the match pin heads are not coated with resin as they are with varnish.

The resin coating unit also differs from the varnish unit in another way. As resin does not have as great a tendency to dry and harden in a supply tank, as does varnish, the tank 45, the' sump 49, and the pump 53 can be dispensed with in the resin unit. In their stead, a constant level tank not shown, can be connected to the rectangular tank 48. The constant level tank will serve as a reservoir for maintaining the level of liquid res n in the tank in which the disks 3!] run.

From the resin coating unit, the match pins are next conveyed to the unit for applying the powdered glass coating which may best be located by referring to Fig. 1, where the location of such unit is designated G. It may be seen that the glass coating unit is mounted to the frame adjacent to the conveyor length extending between sprockets 5 and 6.

Referring more particularly to the detailed view of the glass coating unit shown in Figs. 9

and 10, four disks II are mounted to the upper shaft as best seen in Fig. 10. These disks II are mounted in pairs so that two disks will engage a single match pin as shown.

The four lower disks I2 are similarly mounted to the lower shaft 8i. The lower disks I2 are aligned below the upper disks 'iI so that their peripheral surfaces are respectively in contacting alignment.

The upper disks II and the lower disks I2 are made of rubber or similar resilient material and a metal side plate I3 of lesser diameter than the rubber disks is mounted on each side of each rubber disk to supply rigidity thereto.

To allow the upper disks II to move in a vertical direction relative to the lower disks 12, the shaft I5 is journaled in the housings I6, and each of the housings I6 is rigidly fastened to the end of an arm II, which is in turn pivotally mounted to the frame member "if: at the shaft 79.

The lower disks I2 are keyed to shafts 8 I, which are journaled in the housings 32, and each of the housings S2 is rigidly fastened to the end of an arm 83 which is in turn pivoted to the frame member I8 at shaft 84.

To constantly press the upper disks "lI against the lower disks I2, a spring 85 is connected between an upper arm I? and a lower arm 83. The tension of the springs 85 may be adjusted by means of the slotted brackets 86 which are adjustably fastened to the arms if by the screws 37.

To continually supply particles of glass, or the like, to the match pins as they are conveyed between and rotated by the contacting peripheral surfaces of disks II and I2, hoppers 99 are l mounted to the frame members 9 I. Exit tubes 92 extend downwardly from the hoppers to the points of contact between the upper disks II and the lower disks E2 so that the glass particles are delivered to the match pins while they are being rotated by the disks. An agitator 93 is provided Within each hopper 9i) to prevent the glass particles from clogging in the hoppers. A shaft 94 and gears 95 and S6 serve to drive the agitators,

and a sprocket 97 is mounted on the end of shaft 94, with such sprocket being chain driven by the general power supply to the machine. To collect the excess particles of glass that are discharged over the rotating match pin but that do not adhere thereto, collecting hoods or boxes Ibii are positioned to surround the lower portions of the drums I2. Outlet chutes IflI lead downward to a bin IE2 provided to collect the excess glass particles which may be returned to the hopper 30 by any suitable means.

The upper disks H and the upper shafts I5 upon which the disks are mounted, are rotated by the chain drive consisting of sprocket Hi3 and similar sprockets on shaft I9 and the chain I235.

The lower disks I2, and the lower shaft 8| upon which the disks are mounted, are rotated by the chain drive consisting of sprockets IE3 on shafts 8i and similar sprockets on shaft 84. The shafts I9 and as are synchronized by sprockets H2 and II3, and chain H4. The unit is actuated by sprocket Ib s on shaft I9, through chain I fit, from sprocket IEB'I on shaft I I5, which in turn is driven by a motor, not shown.

After the match pins are coated with glass particles as just described, the conveyor 23 carries them past the sprocket 6, Fig. l, and into the oven 66. The match pins are then conveyed back and forth through the oven past the sprockets 1,8,..9, It, II and I2to the phosphorus coating unit which is mounted on the frame of the machine at the position designated PH in Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the detailed view of the phosphorus coating unit shown in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings, two upright frame members II'I provide the basic mountings for the upper disks I I8 and the lower disks H9. The disks H8 and H9 serve to rotate the match pins as they are conveyed between the opposite peripheries of the disks IIS and H9. The disks 5 I3 and H9 have peripheral surfaces 12:; and I2I which serve to frictionally engage the match pins for rotating them while they are being coated with phosphorus in solution. It should be noted that the surfaces on the lower disks I I9 are positioned opposite the spaces I 22 between the upper disks IIB. Such an arrangement prevents the surfaces I on the upper disks II 8 from collecting phosphorus as it is applied to the match pins.

The upper disks I I ii are keyed to the shafts I23 which are journaled in the housing I 24. Arm I each carry a housing I24 on one end thereof, and each arm has its other end pivotally mounted to the upright frame members II? at shaft I26.

The lower disks I I9 are keyed to the shafts I33 which are journaled in the housings I34. Arms I each carry a housing IN on one end thereof, and each arm has its other end pivotally mounted to the upright frame members III at shafts I37.

To constantly press the upper disks II8 downwardly towards the lower disks II9, the springs Mi) extend between the arms I25 and I36. To adjust the tension of the springs I40, the slotted bracket MI is fastened to the arm I25 by the screws I i-2.

The dual disks I It on shafts I23, are driven by sprockets I59 from sprockets on shaft I26 by means of chains I60. Disks II9, on shafts I33, are driven by sprockets Iiil from sprockets on shafts I31 by means of chains I62. Shaft I26 and the shafts ISI are synchronized by sprockets its and chains Ifi i. Power is supplied through sprocket 565 from sprocket I66 through chain Iii'i. Ehaft I68, on which sprocket IE6 is keyed is in turn driven by sprocket I69 and chain I10 from a motor, not shown.

To constantly supply phosphorus. in solution, or the like, to the peripheries of the lower disks H9, tanks I45, Figs. 11 and 12, are mounted to the lower frame members. These tanks I are each provided with an opening I46 at the top 1 for receiving the lower portion of a disk II9. As

phosphorus in solution has a tendency to precipitate or settle, it has been found necessary to continually stir it, and to accomplish this a multi-blade paddle wheel I i'I, Fig. 11, is provided in each of the tanks I45. These paddle wheels are preferably provided with radially extending paddles its having holes I it formed therein to obtain maximum agitation.

The paddle wheels It? are mounted on the shaft fee which passes through the sides of the tanks i l-5. To prevent leakage at the points where the shaft Iiiil passes through the tanks i 15, packing I54 is provided in the packing boxes Ida as best seen in Fig. 12. A supply line I53 extends to each of the phosphorus tanks I45 for filling. The shaft idii is journaled in the housings Itt, and the motor I55 drives the shaft I by means of the sprockets IE6 and I5! carrying the chain I58.

To steady and guide the conveyor 23 as it passes by" the" various coating units, a spring loaded guide block such as isshown at Ill in'Fig. 8, hasbeen provided at each of the coating units. As is seen in Fig. 8, a spring I12 supplies downward pressure to the guide block ill and such spring is retained by the rod H3, which extends downwardly from the frame. Th nut I14 and the washer H5 provide means for adjusting the compression of the spring I12. In operation, uncoated match pin blanks, as shown at P in Fig. 2, are picked up from the loading pans 2! by an operator and placed in thebrackets 22 on conveyor 23 as best seen in Fi 4. The match pins are then transported by the continuous conveyor to the various coating units and to the oven 86. After the pins have'been processed they are returned by the conveyor to the operator who then removes the finished pins from the conveyor.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood thatothe'r forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

,I claim:

1. A match pin coating machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a continuous match pin conveyor mounted to the frame and means for driving the conveyor; a plurality of brackets longitudinally spaced on said conveyor for rotatably carrying match pins; a phosphorus coating positioned along said conveyor for applying phosphorus to the heads of match pins, with said unit having rotatable disc for rotating said match pins, with resilient peripheral surfaces on the discs, with two of said discs being coaxially mounted in spaced relationship and with the third of said discs being mounted below said two coaxial discs and having its peripheral surface adjacent to the peripheral surfaces of said two coaxial discsand confrontingsaid space between the two coaxial discs, with said adjacent peripheral surfaces being in the path of the match pins carried by said conveyor and with said unit having a phosphorus tank with an opening for receiving a lower portion of said third disc, with an element rotatably carried within said tank for continually agitating the contents thereof, and with means for rotating said discs and said element.

' 2. A match pin coating machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a continuous match pin conveyor mounted to the frame and means for driving the conveyor; a plurality of brackets longitudinally spaced on said conveyor for rotatably carrying match pins; a varnish coating unit positioned along said conveyor for applying varnish to the heads of match pins, said unit having rotatable discs for rotating said match pins with'said discs having confronting peripheral surfaces positioned in the path of match pins carried by said conveyor, said unit having a fluid varnish transporting system for continually supplying varnish to the peripheral surface of one of said discs and with said unit having means for rotating the discs; a resin coating unit positioned along said conveyor for applying resin to the heads of match pins, said unit having rotatablc'discs for rotating said match pins with said discs having confronting peripheral surfaces positioned in the path of match pins carfied by said conveyor, said unit having a fluid resin transporting system for continually supplying resin to the peripheral surface of one of said discs and with said unit havingmeans for rotating the discs; a glass coating unit positioned along saidco'nveyor'for'applying ground glass particles to the heads of match 'pins,"wi'th said unit having rotatable discs for rotating "said match pins with said discs havingconfr'onting peripheral surfaces positioned in the path of the match pins carried'by said conveyor, with'said unit having a hopper with an exit port positioned to'discharge glassparticles onto the header a match pin when said match pin passes between said rotating discs, with agitating'meansfor the contents of said hopper, and with means for rotating said-discs and for-actuating said agi tating means; a phosphorus coating unit' post'- tioned along said conveyor for applying phosphorus to the heads of match pins, with-"'said unit having rotatable discs for rotating said match pins, with resilient peripheral surfaces-on the discs, with two of said discs being coaiiially mounted in spaced relationship "and with the third of said discs being mounted below the two coaxial discs and havingits peripheral surface adjacent to the peripheral surfaces of said" two coaxial discs and confronting said space between the two coaxial discs, with said adjacent periph eral surfaces being in the path of the matchpins carried by said conveyor and with said unit having a phosphorus tank with an openingfor receiving a lower portion of said third'disc, with an element rotatably carriedwithin said tank for continually agitating'the contents thereof, and with means for rotating said discs and said element; and oven means positioned along said conveyor for drying the variouscoatings after each application thereof. I v 3. A match pin coating machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a' continuous match pin conveyor mounted to the frame and means for driving the conveyor; a plurality of brackets longitudinally spaced on said'conveyor-for rotatably carrying match pins; a glass coating unit positioned along said conveyor for applying ground glass particles to the'heads of match pins, with said unit having rotatable discs for rotating said match pins with said discs having confronting peripheral surfaces positioned in the path of the match pins carried by said conveyor, mountings for yieldingly attaching the discs to the frame, means constantly urging said'confronting peripheral surfaces toward mutual contact, with said unit having a hopper with an exit port positioned to discharge glass particles onto the head of a match pin whensaid matchpi'n passes between said rotating discs, with agitating means for thecontents of said hopper, and with means for rotating said discs and for actuating said agitating means. 4. Amatch pin'coating machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a continuous-match pin conveyor mounted to the'frame and means for driving the conveyor; a plurality of brackets longitudinally spaced on said conveyor for rotatably carrying match pins; a phosphorus coating unit'positioned along said conveyor for applying phosphorus to the heads of'match pins, with said unit having rotatable discs for rotating said match pins, with resilient peripheral surfaces on the discs, with two of said discs being coaxially mounted in spaced relationship and with -the third of said discs being mounted below the two coaxial discs and having its peripheral surface adjacent to the peripheral surfaces of said two coaxial discs and confronting said space between the two coaxial discs, with said'adja'cent peripheral surfaces being in the path of-the match pins carried by said conveyor, mountings for yieldingly attaching the discs to the frame, means constantly urging the peripheral surface on said third disc toward said confronting space between the two coaxial discs, and with said unit having a phosphorus tank with an opening for receiving a lower portion of said third disc, with an element rotatably carried Within said tank for continually agitating the contents thereof, and with means for rotating said discs and said element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Nu. mil er Name Date Wheeler et a1. Apr. 13, 1869 Stiassny Apr. 23, 1872 Wright Mar. 29, 1904 Vavra Jan. 6, 920 Eiough Jan. 5, 1926 Dombre Sept, 5, 1939 

